ITV newsreader Rageh Omaar flooded with well wishes after becoming ill live on air | indy100

Related video: Moment ITV News at Ten is evacuated during live broadcast due to fire alarm

ITV News

Rageh Omaar, ITV News’ international affairs editor and newsreader, has received an outpouring of support online after he struggled with his words during Friday’s News at Ten bulletin.

Viewers became concerned for the 56-year-old’s wellbeing as his speech slowed during an introduction to a report on city nightlife, and at the end of the programme, Omaar appeared to have difficulty issuing a sign-off to those watching.

ITV pulled a repeat of the programme on its +1 channel, instead displaying a message which said it was “temporarily unable to bring you our +1 service” and that broadcasting would “resume shortly”.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the presenter said: “We are aware that viewers are concerned about Rageh Omaar’s wellbeing. Rageh became unwell while presenting News at Ten on Friday and is now receiving medical care.

“He thanks everyone for their well wishes.”

Social media users have since wished Omaar a “speedy recovery” following the incident.

Poor Rageh Omaar, a true professional, continuing with his stint despite clearly needing medical intervention! \n\nWishing him a speedy recovery.
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This was the moment news legend and great guy Rageh Omaar, congratulated me about my first News at Ten top story. \nI wish more people would see these positive moments, rather than sharing clips no one would want shared of themselves.
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It\u2019s good to read that Rageh Omaar is getting medical treatment.\nAlways the consummate professional, it was worrying to see him so clearly poorly on air last night.\nGet well soon lovely man.
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My thoughts are with Rageh Omaar this morning.\n\n ITV should never have allowed him to continue reading the news. \nHe should have been taken off once it became obvious he wasn't right. Poor guy.
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Wishing Rageh Omaar well, must be a truly frightening experience for this to happen when you are presenting.
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@BBCNews Hoping Rageh is soon better, he\u2019s a great journalist. ITV News should have more of duty of care surely \ud83d\ude22 really felt for him continuing reading the news
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Wishing Rageh Omaar a speedy recovery. His broadcasts from around the world have always been insightful and fascinating. I thought I\u2019d share his piece about Iran. It\u2019s brilliant. \ud83d\udc47\ud83c\udffd\nhttps://t.co/cN0aTs3bUy
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Hope @ragehomaar is ok - one of my fav newsreaders \u2b50\ufe0f Worrying to see what happened - but unfair to blame those in the @itvnews gallery for carrying on. It\u2019s live tv, maybe only 2 people in the gallery on a Fri eve. Sure they will have asked if ok. Get well soon Rageh Omaar! \u2764\ufe0f
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Others have called for individuals to display “basic decency and respect” by not sharing the footage further:

People need to stop sharing the videos of Rageh Omaar and learn some basic decency and respect.
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\u201cITV shouldn\u2019t have let News at Ten continue with Rageh Omaar clearly being unwell,\u201d say tweeters who then repeat the same footage they\u2019re complaining about.
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Could the ghouls stop tweeting the video of Rageh Omaar and just wish his a speedy recovery. Just have a shred of decency, please!
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The nature of Omaar’s illness during the live broadcast has not been disclosed.

Omaar joined ITV News as a special correspondent and presenter back in 2013, becoming a deputy newsreader for News at Ten in 2015.

Before that, he worked at Al Jazeera and BBC News, making his name with his reporting from Iraq as senior foreign correspondent for the public service broadcaster.

On Saturday afternoon, an ITV spokesperson said Omaar is now "recovering at home with his family".

In a statement shared by ITV News, Omaar said: "I would like to thank everyone for their kindness and good wishes, especially all the medical staff, all my wonderful colleagues at ITV News, and our viewers who expressed concern.

"At the time, I was determined to finish presenting the programme. I am grateful for all the support I’ve been given.”

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